Keith Milosevicted in Chilliwack-Kent

Rollie Keith has stepped aside as the NDP candidate in Chilliwack-Kent, as a result of media reports surrounding his comments about former Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic. 2001 candidate Malcom James will be replacing Keith on the NDP ticket.

This riding was already a lock for the BC Liberals, but a number of pundits and Lewis MacKenzie have suggested that the controversy could effect collateral damage on the NDP campaign across BC. Gordon Campbell says that the apparent lapse in the candidate selection process proves the NDP isn't ready to govern. By contrast the Liberals use an extensive screening process, as illustrated by their candidate in Vancouver-Point Grey.

This page says the Rollie Keith episode could be a huge factor on May 17, particularly in the volatile swing ridings of Croatia, Serbia, Chechnya, and Russia: all of them could go either way...